Textbooks Used: Holt Language and Literature
Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry , by Mildred D. Taylor
The Road From Home , David Kherdian
th
Mrs.Rostamian
1 st
Semi-Quarter 8/23-9-22 California Standards: R1.4, R2.4, R3.3, W2.1
Chapter 1- Setting and Plot
Literary Selections

Priscilla and the Wimps , Richard Peck

Just Once , by Thomas J. Dygard

All Summer in a Day, by Ray Bradbury

The Bracelet , by Yoshiko Uchida
Comparing Texts

The Southpaw , by Judith Viorst

The Concha , by Mary Helen Ponce
Informational Text Focus

Notes, Outlines and Summaries

Wartime Mistakes, Peacetime Apologies, Nancy Day

What a Character, World Almanac
Writing Workshop

Fictional Narrative
2 nd
Semi-Quarter 9/23-10/20 California Standards: R1.5, R2.2, R3.2, W2.2
Chapter 2- Character
Literary Selections

Eleven , by Sandra Cisneros

The King of Mazy May, by Jack London

Cricket in the Road , by Michael Anthony

Blanca Flor , by Angel Vigil
Comparing Texts
 Medusa’s Head , by Olivia Coolidge
 Perseus and the Gorgon’s Head , by Marcia Williams

Dragon, Dragon, by John Dragon
Informational Text Focus

Olympic Glory , by Jessica Cohn

Going to Bat for Baseball and Cricket , Oliver Simonson
Writing Workshop
 “How-To” Explanation
Note: Some additions and/or changes might be made by the teacher as the academic year progresses.

3 rd
Semi-Quarter 10/21-11/18 California Standards: R1.3, R2.5, R3.2, R3.6, W2.2
Chapter 3- Theme
Literary Selections

Stray , Cynthia Rylant

Ta-Na-E-Ka

The All-American Slurp
Comparing Texts

In the Fog , by Milton Geiger

The Hitchiker , by Lucille Fletcher
Informational Text Focus

Following Instructions

Pet Adoption Application

Going Batty! How to build a Bat House
4 th
Semi-Quarter 11/19-12/23
Chapter 4- Forms of Fiction California Standards: R1.2, R2.1, R3.1, R3.6, W2.2
Literary Selections

La Bamba , by Gary Soto

The Gold Cadillac , by Mildred D. Taylor

Do or Die from Gilgamesh the Hero , by Geraldine McCaughrean
Comparing Texts

An Interview with Walter Dean Myers, by Barbara Hoffman

The Game , by Walter Dean Myers

Love That Boy , by Walter Dean Myers
Information Text Focus

Making It Up As We Go, World Almanac

Iraqi Treasures Hunted, Barbara Bakowski

Cave Online
Writing Workshop

Comparison-Contrast Essay
5 th
Semi-Quarter 1/10-/2/10
Chapter 5 – Elements of Poetry California Standards: R1.2, R3.4, W2.2
Literary Selections

Selected poems by various authors: Brooks, Shakespeare, Soto, Basho, Hughes,
Kherdian, Wright, etc.

The Sounds of Poetry
Comparing Texts
Note: Some additions and/or changes might be made by the teacher as the academic year progresses.


Yes, It Was My Grandmother, By Luci Tapahonso

In the Blood/En la Sangre, by Pat Mora
 That Day/About “That Day,” by David Kherdian
Writing Workshop

Descriptive Essay
6 th Semi-Quarter 2/11-3/21 California Standards: R1.4, R2.3, R3.5, R3.7, W2.3
Chapter 6 – Biography and Autobiography
Selections

The Jacket , by Gary Soto

Brother , Maya Angelou

From The Land I Lost , by Huynh Quang Nhuong
Novel

The Road From Home , by David Kherdian
Writing Workshop

Research Report
7 th
Semi-Quarter 3/22-5/02 California Standards: R2.6, R2.7, R2.8, W2.5
Chapter 7 – Expository Critique: Persuasive Texts and Media
Information Text Focus

A Surprising Secret to Long Life: Stay in School, by Gina Kolata

Oprah Talks About Her South African “Dreamgirls,” ABC News

Peace Parks Help Environment and Communities, Sarah Ives
Comparing Texts

Comparing Persuasion and Propaganda

Start the Day Right!

Shine-n-Grow: Hair Repair That Really Works!

Brain Breeze
Novel

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry , by Mildred D. Taylor
8 th
Semi-Quarter 5/3-6/10 California Standards: R1.2, R3.8, W2.4
Chapter 8 – Literary Criticism
Literary Selection

The Fun They Had, by Isaac Asimov

The Dog of Pompeii , by Louis Untermyer

Pompeii , by Robert Silverberg

Trial By Fire, People Magazine Article
Writing Workshop

Response to Literature
Note: Some additions and/or changes might be made by the teacher as the academic year progresses.

Note: Some additions and/or changes might be made by the teacher as the academic year progresses.